Jane Goodall's Legacy Fuels Record Youth Environmental Action in Canada

TORONTO, ON – February 19, 2026 – In a powerful demonstration of an enduring legacy, the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada (JGI Canada) today announced funding for a record-breaking 151 youth-led environmental projects across the country. The announcement, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the global Roots & Shoots program, underscores a surge in youth engagement, channeling climate anxiety into tangible local action.

This wave of activism is being fueled by the Institute's A.P.E. Fund, which provides grants of up to $1,000 to empower young changemakers. The initiative comes at a poignant time for the organization.

"In the wake of Dr. Goodall's passing in 2025, her legacy and her message continue to inspire people," said Bella Lam, Chief Executive Officer at JGI Canada. "The Jane Goodall Institute of Canada has registered record levels of youth engagement -- and with the A.P.E. Fund receiving an unprecedented number of applications this year, we were able to award funds to more projects than ever before."

The funding supports projects in nine provinces and two territories, directly involving over 14,000 young leaders and expected to benefit more than 93,000 community members. This represents a significant increase from previous years, where 96 projects were funded in 2023, validating the Institute's report of unprecedented growth.

From Climate Anxiety to Community Action

This surge in participation is not happening in a vacuum. It reflects a broader trend among Canadian youth who identify climate change as a top concern and are actively seeking ways to make a difference. National surveys indicate that a significant majority of young Canadians feel a sense of climate emergency, with many experiencing feelings of anxiety and fear about the future of the planet. JGI Canada's programs appear to be providing a crucial outlet for these concerns.

By offering a structured pathway and seed funding, the Roots & Shoots program and its A.P.E. Fund empower young people to move from a state of worry to one of agency. The program's framework encourages youth to design, develop, and implement service projects that address local needs, transforming abstract fears into concrete, positive change within their own communities.

"All of us could use some good news, and there is nothing brighter than the action of young environmentalists," noted Rhona Sinamtwa, a member of JGI Canada's Youth Advisory Council. "Thirty-five years ago, Dr. Jane Goodall believed in the power of young people to create meaningful change and, today in Canada, young people are more passionate than ever about building a better future -- not just for ourselves, but for all living things."

A Mosaic of Green Shoots Across the Nation

The 151 funded projects paint a vibrant picture of grassroots environmentalism, showcasing the creativity and dedication of Canada's youth. The initiatives are as diverse as the country itself, tailored to address specific local challenges related to biodiversity loss, environmental justice, and climate change.

Among the funded projects are initiatives to plant dense, biodiverse Miyawaki forests, combining innovative forestry with Indigenous knowledge to restore native ecosystems. In other communities, students are tackling food security by building and upgrading community gardens or establishing vermicomposting systems to turn school cafeteria waste into rich fertilizer.

Wildlife protection is another key focus. One group is launching a "Mission bat rescue" campaign, creating educational materials and building bat houses to protect local populations from white-nosed syndrome. Others are creating vital pollinator gardens, planting native wildflowers and grasses to support bees, butterflies, and other essential species.

These small grants are proving to be powerful catalysts. A $1,000 grant can purchase the lumber for a community garden, the supplies for a beach clean-up, the seedlings for a reforestation project, or the materials for a youth-led art installation focused on reconciliation and environmental healing. The collective impact of these individual "green shoots" is creating a national network of positive change, driven from the ground up.

Thirty-Five Years of Sowing Hope

The Roots & Shoots program, the engine behind this youth movement, is celebrating a remarkable milestone. It began humbly in 1991 on Dr. Jane Goodall's front porch in Tanzania, where she met with 12 students who were concerned about the environmental and humanitarian crises they saw around them. Inspired by their passion, she helped them form a community action club.

From that small gathering, Roots & Shoots has blossomed into a global phenomenon, now active in more than 75 countries. As of 2023, over 1.2 million individuals worldwide were participating in projects, a testament to the universal appeal of its simple yet profound mission: to foster respect and compassion for all living things and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for animals, people, and the environment.

For 35 years, the program has been a cornerstone of Dr. Goodall's work, a program she often called her favorite and her greatest reason for hope. It embodies her belief that the hope for the future lies in the hands of empowered and compassionate young people.

The Enduring Power of a Vision

The success of the youth initiatives in Canada is deeply intertwined with Dr. Goodall's foundational philosophy. Her transformative insight—that you cannot protect wildlife without improving the lives of the people who share their habitat—remains a guiding principle for the Institute. This holistic approach, which recognizes the deep connections between people, animals, and the environment, resonates powerfully today.

While JGI Canada's youth programs are its most visible work within the country, they are part of a larger mission that includes advancing community-led conservation in Africa and providing care for rescued chimpanzees at the Tchimpounga Sanctuary in the Republic of Congo. The Canadian youth projects are a direct expression of the same message of "hope through action" that fuels the Institute's global efforts.

By bridging science with traditional wisdom and empowering local communities, JGI Canada is ensuring that Dr. Goodall's vision not only endures but thrives. The record number of young Canadians taking up the mantle is perhaps the clearest sign that her legacy is not just being preserved—it is growing, adapting, and taking root in communities from coast to coast to coast.